Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Conditions On Baldy

Shin's comments are right on. I'm glad to see the effort that was put into installing signs but there are some real problems. There is one sign that could increase rather than decrease the chances that a person could go in the wrong direction. It's been 2 weeks since l was up so l might remember wrong but l think it's where a Baldy novice might go on the use trail down to the plane wreck rather than stay on the real trail.

Also, when l was up there wasn't any sort of stone or deadwood barrier to block that downhill track that has led some people to fail to jog left but, instead, to keep going straight downhill and get in trouble. That place is dangerous for a novice and should have either a sign or a permanent barrier.

Finally, the mileage sign on top has the ski hut trail as 3.5 miles when the Harrison map and my GPS both say it is 4.2.

I'm heading up
tomorrow and was wondering if anyone has been up recently. Is there any snow or ice on the trail? Thank you.

Baldy is completely clear.

I should add that now there's a good sign at that wrong downhill track. Thanks to whatever agency or organization that is responsible for putting them up.

Hi Burt,
Many Mt. Baldy regulars share the same concerns as you do.
Two signs on the slope are installed at wrong location and one additional sign is needed at bottom of the slope to control the traffic to the ridge line of the slope rather than allowing the traffic to head to extremely right or left direction.
All signs are looking nice but at wrong places.
One retired ranger expressed his view to an agency but they didn't have ears to listen to.

I use big dead trees lined up strait on the slope as a general guide or land mark of trail to the summit. All these dead trees are very unique so you won't get confused.

There were 3 hunters in Bear canyon yesterday.

One volunteer trail builder group blocked off Register Ridge trail head last week again. That was their 3rd try. But the trailhead was passable yesterday. Who will win this battle, trail builder or hikers?

Have a great hike.

I wonder if I am taking the wrong track. I notice that somebody has used sharpie pen to try to provide directions at those signs. Shin, if you wouldn't mind posting your pics of the logs that you use to guide you, that would be very helpful. That trip down is always a bit of a treacherous ski fest for me. Great to see you on the trail on Saturday!

There has been so much switchback cutting between the Ski Hut and the summit that the original trail is difficult to follow. The unofficial Register Ridge trail has become popular with hikers who want a harder route to the summit. Attempts to obscure the beginning of the trail are likely futile. The problem with use trails up steep slopes is that they are not constructed by knowledgeable trail builders. A big rain can turn them into ugly, eroded gullies.

The last rain storm didn't bring not much snow to Mt. Baldy but we can still enjoy winter snow hiking.
Trail condition of Ski hut trail to the summit:
Mt. Baldy road to Manker flat parking: No snow or ice. Dry
Fire road to trail head: Dry except icy spots in front of out house.
Ski hut trail: 40% of upper section of trail was covered with thin snow. Shaded area had icy spots.
Ski hut to the summit: Covered with good consolidated snow. No icy spots even under the tree section. 9000-9200 was dry.
Bowl: Snow was thin. It will melt off in a few days.

It was windy and cold today.
Micro spike and trekking poles were useful.

https://goo.gl/photos/QiwZMJ3yTey7utp19

It was very icy above 9400 ft to the summit.
The last rain storm didn't bring any new snow at all.
The trail below Ski hut was dry. The tree section is still icy.
This is what I saw today.
https://goo.gl/photos/MXFqMycwDfMt6WBUA

Trekking poles and microspike are must.

It was very nice to see Norma R. and Mark I. today.

Hi Shin,

Great photos. Tracie, Dan, and I went up Register Ridge and it was snow/ice free until you got onto the Backbone Trail. The part going up to the peak was mostly wind-blown ice. We decided not to risk it going up. Seeing the County fire helicopter also brought back memories for me.

I made an attempt to hike on Christmas day.
Trail condition:
Mt. Baldy road: There was no icy spots or no snow on the road.
It was well maintained.
Fire road: there was snow entire road and some icy spots.
To Ski hut: 1-2 feet of snow all the way.
Beyond Ski hut to 9500 feet: 1.5-2.5 feet of sugary snow.

Justin and I broke the trail from Ski hut to 9100 feet. Mostly Justin. I gave ground information underneath of snow. Mike and Gordon joined us to break the trail from 9100 to 9500 feet. The snow was sugary and unstable and some section was above knee deep. We decided to turn around because the weather was changing and we were very tired of braking trail and it will take us over one hour to break the trail to the summit.
https://goo.gl/photos/U3X9WbCuFNV8pWqC6
Thank you Justin, Mike, and Gordon for a great hike.

Snowshoes may be a good option for this snow.

Added a pic of you at ski hut which showed the ground fog which rolled up the valley as the day warmed. see you next time

Mt Baldy in the New:

1.Helio crashed on Mt Baldy on Thurs (12/29). Looks like it happened on the ridge somewhere between West Baldy and Mt Baldy. These folks were pretty lucky to come away with just a few bumps.
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/on-air/as-s...-408700205.html

2. Most Baldy hikers have met Sam at some point...... and have been asked 'how old are you'?
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-mt-baldy-hiker-20161129-story.html

Happy New Years all and wishing everyone a healthy and prosperous 2017

And now the rest of the story? Just a fly by or lets land and get a few shots? Gone wrong .During one of the jobs in Utah we got a call from the crew that they needed picked up along the road the chopper was belly deep in snow , we ask WHY? G

Hi All,
Noticed a quick clip on a Heli Rescue along Backbone? Anyone have
any more details.. also any trail condition updates would be appreciated. Planning on a hike from Manker Flats Sat. weather permitting.
Thanks,
Rick

Yesterday, Monday, almost continuous snow from the gate. Trail very hard in the AM. Watch for black ice on waterfall road. Crampons/microspikes recommended. Storms coming later this week will change conditions. Currently most snow on Baldy in 5 yrs.

I hiked up the bowl over MLK (1/16/17). Road conditions were good and clear of ice. I managed to make it to the ski hut in only my boots, but microspikes would've been ideal. I donned my crampons after the ski hut. There was plenty of snow up the main bowl. It was windy all day, but especially windy once you top out at the bowl.

Be careful this weekend. Heavy snow is in the forecast: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php...xt#.WH_WuvkrIvg

Any idea if the roads will be plowed to Manker parking lot? Hoping to snowshoe to
the hut this weekend.

Normally, that's not issue. People live on that road.

Hikers rescued from Baldy Bowl after avalanche.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-hiker-injured-avalanche-mount-baldy-20170126-story.html